holcombe



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. G. HOLGOMBE.

ELECTRIC COMMUNICATING SYSTEM.

No. 397,364. Patented Feb. 5, 1889.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

A. G. HOLCOMBE.

ELECTRIC COMMUNICATING SYSTEM.

No. 397,364. Patented Feb. 5, 1889.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

. A. G. HOLGOMBE.

ELECTRIC COMMUNICATING SYSTEM.

Patented Feb. 5, 1889-.

lllllll -lll (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

A. e. HOLGOMBEQ ELECTRIC COMMUNICATING SYSTEM.

No. 397,364. Patented Feb. 5, 1889.

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N. P'zTERs Fhamlilhugmpher. Washington, 11c.

llNrrnb States PATENT Uriucn,

ALFRED G. I'I'OLCOMBE, OF NElV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE EQUITABLE ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ELECTRlC COMMUNICATING SYSTEM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters latent No. 397,364, dated February 5, 1889.

Application filed June 14, 1888. Serial No. 277,069. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED G. HoLeoMBE, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrical Communicating Systems, of which the following is a specification.

The electrical communicating system form: ing the subject-matter of my present invention is particularly adapted tor use as apolieesignaling system, though. parts of the inveni (ll tion are suitable for use in hotels, :umrtn'ienthouses, and elsewhere.

In the system herein described, generally speaking, among other things I emplow' first, a call or signaling box located at each of the stations, rooms, or apartments, and. adapted to send signals representing certain wants by making and breaking the circuit a definite number of times for each want; second, a call-bell at each of the stations or rooms in a branch circuit joining the call-boxes to a collective line or line common to all, the stations or rooms; third, an aunl'luciator at the central oliice having as many electro-magnetic devices as there are stations or rooms connected to the call-boxes in the stations by separate lines and a disk for each of the electro-magnetic devices provided on its face with numbers consecutively arranged and rotated step by step by its electro-magnetic device; fourth, a battery at the central oflicc connected at one end to the coils of all the electromagnetic devicesin the annunciators and at the other end to all of the call-boxes at the stations or rooms by a main line "fifth, a switch-boxhaving two sets of keys, those of one set being included in the individual station or room lines on normally-closed circuits and those of the other set being connected to contact devices in the aununciator, the circuits of which are broken when the indicatin g-disks are at the zero-mark, a bar or contact-piece arranged under the first set of keys and connected to the main line, and a bar or contact-piece located under the second set of keys and joined to the main line through a vibrating circuit closer; sixth, a call-bell at the central office in the main line between the connections of the vibrating circuit-closer and the contact-piece under the first set of keys in the switch-box; seventh, one or more incandescent electric lights at each station, which are flashed to indicate to the eye the signal or number of impulses transmitted, while the bell may also be used to sim ultaneously sound the signal, and, eighth, an incandescent lamp placed within the signal-box in connection with a circuit-closer, push-button, or switch, by means of which it may be lighted by the roundsman to illuminate the interior of the box.

To send a message to the central station,

5 through the section of the aununciator belonging to the station from which the signal emanates, energize the electro-magnet and cause its armature to vibrate, and this armature, by mean of a connected pawl or dog, acts on the numbered disk and exposes the number corresponding to the signal sent by the impulses over the line. The central-station operator is at the same time notified by the ringing of his call-bell, and he, upon ascertaining from the aununciator the number of the station and the signal received, informs the calling-station that the message has been received, by depressing that key of the first set of keys in the switch-box which corresponds to the station number, thereby breaking theindividual line from the aununciator and connecting it through the main line to the battery. The current of the battery thus passes over said individual line through the call-bell and flash-light at the station to the collective line and back to the battery through all of the other individual lines. To move the displaced aununciatordisk back to zero, the attendant presses that one of the second set of keys in. the switch board which corresponds to the station number, thereby breaking the individual line to the station and connecting the battery through the vibrating circuit-breaker or rheotome to the contact device in the annunciator, which is now closed.

The vibrating circuit-breaker causes the current to flow in impulses through the electro-magnet of the ann u nciator, thereby actuating its armature, which, by means of its connected pawl, moves the disk until the zeromark or blank space thereon appears under an opening in the annunciator-face, an insulated plug in the contact device then stopping further flow of current from the battery.

To transmit signals to any sub-station, currents are thrown upon its individual line by a key or suitable transmitting devices. The impulses thus sent according to any predetermined code or system ring the call-bell and actuate the semaphore or visual indicator or, in other words, flash the lightssimultaneously.

- At the outlying stations the flash or signal lights may be placed in an elevated and conspicuous position, and a roundsman a considerable distance away may be at once apprised of what is required of him. In cases of emergency much time is therefore saved. This is of importance in police-signaling systems. The use of the lights is obviously not limited to the conjoint use of a calling-bell or audible signaling-instrument A perfect system for communication is thus provided by means of simple inexpensive instruments positive in operation and not liable to derangement of parts and simple line-connections by which all possibility of interference between the diiii'erent instruments is avoided. The capacity of the battery alone fixes the limit of the number of instruments which can be used at the same time.

To enable a full understanding of the invention to be had, I will now refer to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a diagram of the complete system. Fig. 9, Sheet 1, is a cross-sec tion of the switch-box. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a face view of the callbox with the front plate removed. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a central section of the same. Fig. 5, Sheet 2, is a section on the line 00 00, Fig. i. Fig. 0, Sheet 3, is a part face view and a part section of the annnnciator with the face-plate removed. Fig. 7, Sheet 3, is a side elevation of the actuating mechanism of the same, the frame being in section. 3, Sheet 3, is face view of the vibrating oircuitelweaker. Fig. 9, Sheet 3, is an under side view of the same; and Fig. 10, Sheet 4, is a diagram view indicating a somewhat different arran 1" from that shown in Fig. 1.

To illustrate iheoperation of my improved communicating system, only three outlyingstations or call-boxes, with their corresponding instruments, are shown. bers 1 2 3, Fig. 1, indicate the stations, at each The large num of which are placed a call-box, a bell, and lamps.

The construction and operation of the various ll'lStllllllQl'ltS and devices employed will be first described.

The call or signalinbox shown in detail by Figs. 3, fl, and 5 has the signals marked or printed on its face a on radial lines, as shown at Fig. 1, in which view for want of space the want-s are indicated by figures. On the central shaft, a, in front of the face a, is secured the pointer a and thumb-piece by which it can be rotated, and immediately behind the face is located the serrated disk a rigidly secured to the shaft a and provided with as many teeth as there are signals or wants. A roller on the lever a pivoted to the frame of the instrument, is caused to bear against the edge of the disk a by means of the spring a and this lever, when the disk is rotated, is caused by the action of the teeth of the disk against the roller to make contact with the insulated stop a. This stop a is joined to the main line b of the system. At the back of the disk a and pivoted to it, is the springacting hooked pawl (1 the projecting 'tail of which strikes the stud a when the pointer a is brought back to the zero position, and thus moves the hooked end of the pawl clear of the notch in the flange con the end of the sleeve, just in front of the spring 0 is secured the insulated lug c, which acts as a stop for the spring and determines the normal position of the sleeve 0 and attached parts by resting against the end of the lever-switch d, to which the individual line 6 is connected. This lever (Z plays between the two insulated stops (1 and but is held against the stop (1 to which the collective linef is joined, by the lug 0", and is brought into contact with the other stop, (P, by the spring (Z when the sleeve 0 is rotated. This stop d is electric ally connected through the frame to the lever a.

The speed-controlling gear h 7L h is of the ordinary construction.

In the indicating-annunciator three sections only are shown, and in Fig. (3 a different face view of the mechanism of each section is given. The 'electro-magnets of all sections in each vertical row of the annunciator are composed of a single bar of iron provided with pole-pieces i, between which the coils of insulated wire i are wound. In front of each pole-piece next above the one to which it is hinged, thus forming a nearly-closed magnetic circuit with the part of the bar constituting the core between said adjacent pole-pieces. As the operative parts are alike in all sections of the annunciator and similarly lettered, the following description will apply to the meclr anism of each section: The shaft extends through the frame in front of the armature i and is provided with the ratchet-wheel into which plays the hooked pawl '11, pivoted To the upper end of the armature 1 said pawl being held in contact with the ratchet-wheel.

by the spring 1?, which also draws the armature away from the pole-piece i of the magnet. The extent of the movement of the armature is determined by the adjustable screwj fitted in the bell-crank lever j, the other arm of which is provided with a pin arranged to come in contact with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel], and thus rectify the position of the wheel and lock it when the armature,iu its retrograde movement, strikes the screw f, thus preventing the shaft j and attached parts from being moved farther than one tooth of the ratchet-wheel] for each movement of the armature toward the magnet. The light sprin j holds the pin on the lever always against the ratchet-wheel, thus causing it to act as a back-stop therefor. On the end of the shaft j is secured the disk 7;, having a series of numbers marked on its face corresponding to the li Fteen signals marked on the call-boxes and a blank space between the numbers 1. and 15, making sixteen divisions in all, which correspond to the number of teeth formed on the 'ratchetwhecl j. The central part of this disk, with the exception of a circular spot, is made black. The face k of the annunciai'or has numbers marked thereon indicating the stations, and each section has two holes, one in front of the blank space between the numbers 1 and 15, and the other in front of the circular white spot on the disk when the disk is in normal position; but when the disk is rotated by its eleetro-magnet, so as to expose a number in place of the blank space, then a black circle appears in the lower opening, which makes a distimtive mark on the face of the annnnciaior, by means of which the attendant readily observes the number of the station making the call.

Under the annunciator in l i 1 may be located a card showing the wants or signals and numbers correspomling thereto.

On each of the shalTtsj, lmtinsulated therefrom, is the flanged collar L against which i the insulated springs It and It bear, the llange 5 having an insulated piece on which the spring it normally rests. Each of the springs Ir is connected to one of the imlividual lines 6 c e of the system, each of which is joined to one end of its respective coil i, and the springs j k are connected by the lines (1'1 respectively, to the switch-box hereinafter described.

the main line I) being joined to the other termin al of the battery.

The switch box at the central office contains two sets of keys, the upper set, or a 41 being included in the imlividual lines c e and normally closing these lines, and the other set, 0 o 0 constituting the terminals in the switch-box for the branch lines Z Z The keys of the two sets are arranged in pairs, the keyso o 0 being provided at their ends with projecting pieces of non-conducting material overlapping the ends elf the keys a a 11 but not connected thereto. Located under these two sets of keys are the bars 1.) and 1), respectively connected to the main line l)-tl1e bar 1) by the wire 9, and the bar 1) by the wire 19, the latter including the device q, adapted to automatically make and break at regular intervals the circuit of the current passing through it. This circuit-controller comprises an electro-magnet, q, a spring, (1 resting on a pivoted metal disk, q, included in th e ci rcuit, and a pivoted armature, q, actuated by a spring against the attraction of the magnet thereon and provided with an adjustable weight, g, by which its beats as a pendulum can be regulated. The penduhim-rod passes through a notch or fork. wider than the pendulum rod cut in the disk (f, thus causing the disk to move on its pivot and bring an insulai'ed piece fitted in the periphery thereof under the spring f when the armature approaches the magnet, thereby breaking the circuit, which is again closed when the armaturc moves away from the magnet. By this construction the time during which the current is flowing through the magnet is much increasi'al over that in the ordinary springacting vibrating circuitelosers, and positiveness and deliberz'tl on css of action consequently assured, because the pendulum or vibrating armature-rod moves a given distance when vibrating in either direction before it moves the circuit making and breaking devices. At each of the statioi'ls is located a call-bell, r, placed in a branch heading to the collective linef, which is common to all of the stations, and a call-bell, s, is placed at the central office in the main line 0, between the lines p and p".

All the circuits are normally open, so that no waste of battery power occurs, and the one battery supplies the current for all operations carried out by this system, which 1 will now proceed to describe.

As an example olf lhe working of the tcm, supbose that an. oliicer at station 2 wants an ambulance. lle simply turns the pointer a of his cali-imx untii it lies over or points to the word ambulance or to the number standing therefor -say 5. This in itself does not aiiteet the circuit... It may here be mentioned that the pointer can be rotated forward and back to the starting-point indis- (,zriminal'ely without any injuly to the apparains. When the pointer is thus set, the

'1 hooked pawl is carried around with the serrated disk (1. The officer now pulls down the knob c, which winds up the spring and allows the spring (7 to move the lever (Z against the stop (Z thus breaking the collective circuit at d and connecting the individual line 6 to the lover a, which lever closes the main line at a each time a tooth of the disk rr acts thereon, as the disk is caused to move back into normal position by the engagement of the notch in the flange (1 with the hooked end of the pawl (L The five impulses thus caused to flow through section 2 of the annunciatoi. energize its coil 2", and through the medium of the armature and pawl, move the ratchetwheel j forward the distance of five teeth, thus exposing the number in the opening of the face of the annunciator. These impulses in passing through the main line actuate the call-bell s. The attendant at the cen tral station or office, having noted the call number, informs the officer that his signal has been received by pressing down. the key a, thereby separating the individual line e from the annunciator and connecting it to the bar 2 5 p, thus opening a path for the battery-current tween n and bar p) and closes the circuit through the main line I) to wire p bar p, key a, line c, lever (Z in the call-box, and to the collective line through the call-bell 9" of the station by the contact-stop (Z'. From the collective line the circuit is completed to the other side of the battery through all of the other individual lines and included instruments, but without aifectin g any of these latter instruments, the quantity of current flowing through each being insufficient to energize the electro-magnets. The attendant at the central office now sets the disk 7r. back to the Zero position by pressing on the key 0, which breaks contact between the key n and the line by which it is connected to the annunciator (but does not make contact bethrongh the vibrating circuit-breaker q, the springs 7t", and the insulated flanged collar 15 the insulated section in the flange of which is now away from the spring 7;, the coil '2', and the battery m, the lines involved being part of the main line Z), the wire 19 line Z, and line m. The current, because of the interruptions in the circuit caused by the circuit-breaker q, flows in impulses, each impulse causing the armature 1' to move the ratchet-wheel j one tooth, and this operation continues until the insulated part of the flanged collar k comes under the spring [171, in which position the disk 7c of necessity pauses and exposes the zeroanark or blank space.

By manipulating the key or n. a of course any. required signal may be transmitted to each sub=stationand is there reproduced by the call-bell 2'.

As is obvious, any number of sub-stations (for which there is sufficient battery) may simultaneously transmit signals to the central station, the signal from each station beingrecorded on its own annunciator, and at the same time the operators at the central station. may send signals to any sub-stations or return the ai'inunciators of any lines to zero, all without -the least interference or confusion. In other words, each sub-station is as free to send or receive signals at any time as if it had a battery and circuits devoted to its exclusive use.

The system thus far described is for many purposes complete; but for a police system I add the following important features: At each station the call-box will of course be inclosed in a box or casing, the key of which is carried by the officer. In order that the box may be illuminated at night, so that the officer may clearly see the dial and avoid error in transmitting signals, I place an incandescent lamp, u, andpush-button to, Figs. 1 and 10, within the casing and include them in a branch circuit normally open at the button, running from the collective wire fto the battery-wire b. By depressing the button, therefore, the lamp is lighted and the face of the call-boxilluminated.

To provide a semaphore or visual signal that may be read by the officer at night and from long distances, if desired, I place in series with the call-bell between the collective lines f and the call-box at each station one or more incandescent lamps, 11. These lamps may, as above remarked, be elevated into a conspicuous position and will flash in coincidence with the strokes of the bell as the circuit is made and broken. Signals of any code based upon numbers or intervals may therefore be readily transmitted. A lamp may also be placed within the casing and serve as the signal-receivin g device, either alone or in connection with the call-bell. Any desired number of lamps may be used, and they will in practice be distributed throughoutthe beat of an officer, so that from all points within his beat a signal-light will be in sight. lle may therefore receive orders in this way direct or proceed to his signal-box for instructions.

Instead of using keys n a "n to transmit the signals from the central station,they may be sent out by means of notched disks, as indicated in Fig. 10. In that figure each line 8' 6 e &c., passes to the key a n a through a switch, \V, which maybe placed upon the contact-point u; of a wire, 'W, joined to I), thus disconnecting the line from the key and connecting it through an automatic transmitter, X, with one pole of the battery. This transmitter may be of any usual construction, and the disks m are removable, one disk with the requisite number of circuitdweaking teeth being used for each signal to be transmitted. The call-bell S is located between the automatic transmitter and the battery, and. may be shunted through a branch Wire and switch, 5, when desired. In this figure the earth forms part of the all-around battery-line 5, leading to the several stations. The arrangement is obvious from the drawings and no further description is necessary, and as disktransmitters such as X are well known illustration and description of details are not needed. Since in sending in a signal from a substation the contacts cl cl are opened, the lamps are cut out of circuit.

In another application filed by me January 14, 1889, Serial No. 296,341, I have shown a system similar in some respects to this, and any patentable subject-matter disclosed by this case and not herein claimed will be claimed in said application. For instance, electric-flash lamps for communicating according to a predetermined code, which may or may not be used in the system herein described, will be claimed in proper combination in said application.

I claim as my invention 1. In an electrical. communicating system, the combination, with a source of electric energy, signaling devices located at a central and sub stations, and circuitconnections uniting said stations, of electric lamps located in branch lines at the sub-stations and having suitable circuit-closing devices, whereby they may be lighted atthe will of the operators at the sub-stations, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, substantially as set forth, with the all-around battery-wire, of the collective wire, the sub-station signaling devices located between said wires, the individual lines leading from said signaling devices to the central station, and an electric lamp and its switch at each sub-station placed in a shunt around the signaling devices.

3. In an electrical communicating system, the combination, with the sub-statiims, the in.- dividual lines, and the step-bystep indicators of each line, of a sub-circuit for each indicator including the operating-magnet thereof, an automatic rheotome or vibrator, and a circuit-completing switch or key, whereby, after a signal is registered upon the indicator, it may be automatically returned to zero by closing the vibrator-circuit, substantially as set forth.

4:. The combination of the central and sub stations, the individual lines leading from the sub-stations to the keys 1?. n n at the central. station, through which theyare norm ally closed through the magnets of their respective indicators, sub-circuits also including said magnets, a rheotome and normally-open keys, 0'0 0 and connecting bars or devices between the keys or n n and o o 0 whereby, when the latter keys are operated to close the sub-circuits to bring the indicator to zero the normally-closed individual lines are opened at the former keys, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a battery located at the central station, of an all-are und batterywire connected therewith and leading to all the sub stations, individual lines running from said stations to the central station, where each one passes through its indicator to the opposite pole of the battery, and a normally open subcircuit for each indicator connected with one pole of said battery and including an automatically-acting rheotome and co11- nected through the indicator with the opposite pole of said battery, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of the indicator-disk marked to correspond with the predetermined signals to be received, and also having portions of its face differently marked to indicate when it is at zero and when not, (as, for instance, a white spot to indicate zero and the remainder black) of a faceplate having two apertures-one through which the received signal is read and another through which the face of the disk is seento indicate conspicuously when the disk has been moved from zero, substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

7. The combination of the indicator or annuneiator, its individual line in which its actuating-magnetis included, a sub-circuit normally open at two points, contacts oper' ated by the movement of the indicator which automatically close said sub-circuit at one point when the indicator is moved from the zeropoint, a circuit opener or insulator which opens said contacts at the same point when the indicator is returned to zero, and a circuit-closing key or switch for closing the circuit at the other point at will to return the indicator to Zero, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination of the indicator-disk, its actuating-magnet, ratchet and paw], its individual line in. which the magnet is included, the sub-circuit containing the automaticallyaeting rheotome and also including said actuating magnet, the contacts 7. 7. 7:, included in the sub-circuit, and the insulator which opens said contacts when the indicator-disk. is at zero, and a circuit-closing key or switch for closing said sul'i-circuit at will. to return the indicator to zero, substantially as set forth.

El. The combination, with the rotating indicater-disk, its driving-ratchet, actuating-mag net, and armatnre-levcr, of the pivoted lever j, having a stop located out of a line drawn f between the teeth of the ratchet and rectify the position of the disk, substantially as set forth.

10. The con'ibination, with the rotating in dicator-disk, its driving-ratchet, actuatingmagnet, and armature-lever and pawl, of the pivoted elbow-lever normally drawn by its spring against the driving-ratchet to prevent its false movement and a stop'carried by the elbow-lever and located out of a line drawn from the pivot of said lever perpendicular to the armature, against which the armaturelever falls when retracted to operate the elbow and rectify the position of the disk, substan tially as set forth.

11. The combination, with the indicatoractuating magnet and the sub-circuit in which it is included, of an automatically-acting rheotome consisting of an electro-magnet, its vi IIO brating armature-lever, an independent circuit-coinpleter operated by the armature-lever and loosely connected therewith, and a key for closing said circuit, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

12. In a call-box, the combination of the retating, spindle carrying the pointer and the notched circuit-making wheel, the windingsleeve, the movable contact-arm (1, contacts (1 (1 the insulated stop on the wind ing-sleeve which normally holds said arm on one of said contacts, the lever a, connected with the other of said stops and operated by the notched circuit-making wheel, an d lockin g devices interposed between the spindle and windingsleeve, whereby when the pointer is set and the sleeve released the required signal is transmitted, substantially as set forth.

1 3. The combination, with the spindle carrying the notched signaling-wheel and pointer, of the winding-sleeve, the notched flange thereon, the catch or dog (4 the stop or pin a? on the wheel, and the stop a against which it works, whereby the pointer and notched signaling-wheel may be freely rotated in either direction, but are carried around when the sleeve is released in transmitting a signal.

'14. The combination of the collective wire f, the stop (1, with which it is connected, the contact-arm (1, connected with the individual. line and normally resting against said step, the stop (1 connected with the all-around battery-wire, against which the arm (Z rests when a signal is being transmitted, the notched transmitting-whecl and its spindle, the winding-sleeve and drum, and the locking devices between the sleeve and signal-transmitting devices, eonsistin g of the pawl (H, for engaging the sleevc, and the stops a a, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ALFRED G. llOLCOMBE.

Witnesses:

M. J. KELLEY, EDWARD (J. DAVIDSON. 

